FreewritingWhat
is it?Freewriting fosters uninhibited
thought. It is used as an invention technique to get the brain in
gear and generate text without the pressure of a critical eye.
(Freewriting is also fun.)

What should
you do?

Write or type as fast as you can.

Don't censor yourself.

Don't worry about grammar.

Even if your stuck, continue typing
whatever comes to mind.

Believe that whatever you write
has value.

Try
itWrite for the next 5 minutes
on the word "Artistic."

(Write as fast as you can; the
faster the better. You are not allowed to stop writing! If you can't think
of anything to say, write down that you can't think of anything to say,
something like: "I'm stuck but I'll think of something soon." Don't stop.
Don't worry about transitions or connecting the ideas or paragraphing or
subject-verb agreement or even commas. And form absolutely no judgment
about what you write. Your Censor is on vacation. Your writing may take
you in some really weird directions, but don't stop and never think to
yourself, "Oh, this is dumb!" If you get off the subject, that's all right.
)

Debrief

Check the word count that you generated
in 5 minutes.

Read your freewrite out loud when
you finish.

Allow a friend to read your freewrite
out loud to you.

Delete the "I can't think of anything
to say" lines and nonsense.

Ask yourself if there are any ideas
or patterns emerging?

Correct grammar and punctuation.

Don't give up on freewriting after
one exercise.

Freewriting is like any other kind
of mental activity: you will get better at it.